‘Sometimes the most important and impactful of things are said in a quiet, controlled and thoughtful voice.’

‘The short story is a literary fragment that insists on immediacy, brevity, intensity. My stories—irrespective of setting—are character-based: a character’s relationship with themselves, with others, and with the world around them.’

‘An expert can break all of this down and help a writer work through suggested areas of improvement, one layer at a time.’

‘With few exceptions, writers don’t figure out their plots on the first attempt, whether they’re sitting down and plotting it out in advance or figuring it out as they draft. Plotting is a skill that requires an understanding of the mechanics of story, and that will develop as you apply yourself to the task of writing and rewriting.’